Tubular fabric and method of constructing same.



V Patented July 3|, I900. F. WILGOMB.

TUBULAR FABRIC AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME.

Application filed Dec. 7, 1897.)

(No Model. 2 shuts-sneer I.

)IJ/ he WQ- gm! w -f (I k 2; g e m I'Q 21 21 W5 By Patented luly 3|, I900. F. WILCO MB. TUBULAR FABRIC AND METHODOF GONSTRUCTING SAME.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1897.)

No Model.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

FRANK 'WILCOMB, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODEISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD MACHINE COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TUBULAR FABRIC'ANDMETHOD OF CONSTRUCTINGVSAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,694, dated July 31, 1900. Application filed December '7, 1897. Serial No. 661,014. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK WILCOMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in TubularFabrics and Methods of Constructing the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de: scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Speaking generally, my invention consists of a novel tubular fabric shaped by additional loops introduced at intervals without leaving holes in the fabric at the points where the new loops are introduced and without producing a rib at that point and a novel method My novel method of knitting consists in the following: The formation of the regular .rounds of loops is as inthe ordinary knitting,

(see Figs. 2 and 3,) Where the thread is fed to needles 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the front bank of needles and 15, 14, 13, 12, and 11 of the rear bank of needles. WVhen the fabric is to be widened, I proceed as follows: In knitting on the front co urseone additional loop is formed on needle No. 6 and the loop, on needle No. 5 preceding said additional loop omitted, the thread passing directly from the loop preceding the omitted loop to said additional loop. (See Fig. at.) This step produces a sort of a brace between the additional loop and the loop from which the'thread proceeded to this additional loop. In the next step the thread goes across to the rear course and connects with the rear loops Without forming any additional loop onthe rear course. (See Fig. 5.) This gives a bridgefroni the additional loop of the front course to the rear course. In the next round in the front course all the loops except the additional loop are cast, and then two loops in'the'rear course are formed-to wit, the loop preceding the additional loop and thus draw the two courses together. ter the formation of the additional stitch of and the additional loop of the rear course (see Fig. 6)upon needles 15 and 16. In this Way the additional loop upon the rear course is braced or bridged with the loop preceding it and with the front course-that is to say, it is pulled toward the front course. Both of .these threads-to wit, the thread leading to the additional loopin the front course and the thread leading to the loop preceding the additional loopand the additional loop on the rear course being straight, threads will have a tendency to contract anddraw the additional loops of opposite courses toward each other and toward the front course. Also the loop which was omitted in the first round in the, second round is formed. This will have a tendency to borrow from the opposite couige,

the rear course of this round the additional loop of the front course and all of the other lo ps of the rear course are cast. (See Fig. 7. again cross from the front to the rear course and has a tendency to further draw or close up the orifice or, what is the same thing, draw the two rows together. The regular knitting then proceeds with the additional loop on each course. (See Figs. 8 and 9.) Speaking generally, we have the threadcrossing twice with an omitted loop in the front course,which enables the other loops to be drawn together to close up the orifice. In other words, the additional wales at this point, front and back, are formed partially from the thread going to make the opposite wale. In this way the two wales, front and back, are to a certain extent drawn toward each other.

WVherever I have spoken in this description of front and back courses I have merely used the terms front and back as opposites of one another, as where I havespoken of front a back may be used and where I have spoken of back a front may be used, so long as opposite courses are used. I By courses I mean when the fabric is being formed all the loops formed in one-half of the-circum- Asa consequence this makes the thread i ference of the fabric, and by F, round Irefer IOO . I wish it to be distinctly understood that wherever in this specification I have referred banks, or wales in the same fabric. a

characteristics: At the points of widening- From the foregoing and upon reference'to the figures'where Ct a afi'show portions of three rounds before widening, b 1) port ons of two rounds after widening, and c portions of two rounds at the point of widening, it will be seen that at the point ofwideninglhave produced a fabriei-n which there is no orifice wherethe twoadditional loopsare introduced and which fabric has the following two new wales d and Z' are made to appear to be'st arted-together, the stitches of the two new wales at their starting-point being bound together by the threads of two rounds of knittingcrossing each other. The

course, then forming the rear course and omittingin that course the additional loop in the rear coursei 5 v 6. In the method of knittingwidened tubular'ffabric forming all'bu't the additional, loop of the front course, then formingthe end and an additional loop of the rearicourse, then forming the additionalloop of the front course, then forming the rearcourse, omitting the additional loop of therear course.

7. In the method of knitting widened tubul a r fabric forming all but the additional loop ofthe front course, then forming the end loop of the rear course and then forming the additional loop of; the front "course, then forming all but the additional loop of the rear course.

8. The hereinbefore-described tubular fabric in whichtheadditional loopsor wales are drawn together to close the hole at the point of widening in which a loop isotnitted precedingthe additional loop of the front course, the thread being carrieddirectly frein thelast end and an ad ditionalloopof the rear course,

I what I claim, and desire to protect by Lettersthreads so crosslng being shorter than, the thread used in making a loop serves to draw the two new walestogether and are'almost or quitefindistinguishable from the meshes of the fabric, giving the fabric the appearance of being narrowed or of knitting two wales into one, as in the case of narrowed fabrics, 'an'd 'at the sametimestrengthening the fabric atthat point. p 7 I v- Havingnow fully described my invention,

Patent, is-' v 1. The method of knitting widened tubular fabric which consists in'omitting the end loop and forming anadditionalloop in the front course, the thread passing directly from the last loop formed preceding the omitted loop 'to sai'd additional loop, passing the thread from the additional loop of the front. course to the rear course forming the rear coursean'd in the next succeeding round forming all the loops except'the additional loop of thejf ront e'ourse and formingan additional loop. of the rear conrse, tlienfthe additional loop of the front course and forming the remaining stitches of said rear course.

"course. i

*3. In themethodof knitting widened tub u lar'fabric, forming with the front course, the

then forming an additional loop of theifront course and then forming the rear course. i

1 4;. .In;the method of knitting widened'tubit l'ar-fabric, forming all but theadditional loop 7 of the front course, then forming the end and the additional loop of the rear course.

In'the method of knitting widened tuhxilatfabric forming the front course, the end and an additional loopof the rear course,

then forming an additional loop of thefront precedin g loop of said course to said additlonal loop, and from said loop to the rear course, and in the next round the loopprece'ding the "first additional loopof the rea cburse and the-first additional loopof said course are formed with the loops of the frontcouise.

9. The hereinbefore -describedtubular fabric in which an additional loop of there'ar I course and the loop preceding an additional loop of the rear course are formed with, the frontcours'e. a h

,10. The hereinbeforedescribedtubular fabric in which an additionallloop of the rear course and the loop preceding the'additional loop of the rear course are formed with the front course, and aloopupon the additional wale of thefront course-is formed with the succeeding water ourse. 7' I 11'. The hereinbefore-described tlibhlar fab- 'ri c 'in which anadditional ,loopof "the rear cou rse'and' the .loopprecedin g an vadditional loop of therear course are formedfwith. the front eo 'sa ana in 'thfat course a loop being omitted from'the additional front Wale;

' j 12. The hereinbeforerdes'cribed tubular fab- "ri i which an additional loop of the rear I a 2;; In the method of knitting widened tubu .5

courseand the,loop preceding the additional loop of the rear course are formed with the front course and aloop upon the additional wale'of' the front course s formed with the succeeding rear course, a loop upon the additionalrearjwale beingomittedin that course. 13, Thehereinbefore-descrihed'tiibularfab- 'i'ic ,in' which an' additionalloop of therear course and the looppreceding the additional loop of therear course are: formed-with the front course, and inthatcourse a l'o'olplbeing omitted from .the additional front wa'le, and in which a loop upon the additional wale of the front course is'formed with the's'ucceeding'rear course, a loop upon the additional rear wale beingomitted in the last-mentioned course] Y V v The hereinbefore fdeseribed tubular fabric in which an additional loop of the rear In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK WI'LOOMB.

course is formed with the front course and in that course a loop being omitted from the additional front Wale, a loop for the additional 1 front Wale being formed with the succeeding rear course the additional Wale of that rear course being omitted.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. BUSSER, M. F. ELLIS. 

